[Suicidal poisoning in relation to use of psychoactive substances in adolescents]

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess interrelation between a usage of psychoactive substances and suicidal behaviour of adolescents and young adults (14-19 years). A three groups were included to the prospective study: patients hospitalized at the Kraków Department of Clinical Toxicology because of suicidal poisoning (examined group); patients hospitalized at the Department poisoned acciden tally (first control group); and Kraków secondary school children (second control group). Examined group consisted mostly of females--88%; distribution of gender in both the control groups was equal. Most of adolescents examined were inhabitants of Kraków. Near half of the patients treated due to suicidal attempt attended secondary school. A medication drugs dominated as a cause of poisoning in that group, whereas carbon monoxide dominated in the control group of accidentally poisoned patients. Most of the examined (examined suicidal group and both the control groups) declared alcohol initiation, but intensity of alcohol drinking in suicidal group was much more higher compared to the control groups. 44% of the suicidal patients confirmed the use of narcotics; the difference in relation to the control groups was statistically significant. Most of examined had reached for psychoactive substances in age of 14-16 years, but the age of abuse initiation in the suicidal patients was considerably lower compared to both controls. Marijuana was the most popular, but the suicidal patients also experienced with opioids and cocaine as well as with inhalatory substance abuse. In conclusion, obtained results confirmed statistically significant difference between the use of psychoactive substances in adolescent who attempted to commit suicide and adolescents from the control groups.